Clayton John "Mac" McLucas

1933 - 2011

Clayton John "Mac" McLucas, 77, passed away Monday Oct. 10, 2011, in Rolla, Mo., after a brief illness. Funeral: 3 p.m. Saturday in Arlington Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Arlington Funeral Home. Mac was born Nov. 26, 1933, in Seattle, Wash., to Charles Joseph and Lillian Catherine McLucas. Mac was one of seven children; he had two older sisters, two younger sisters, a brother who died shortly after birth and an adopted brother. His oldest sister, Myra, preceded him in death, as did his parents and his maternal grandmother, who lived to be 103. In 1951 Mac joined the United States Army. After basic training at Fort Riley, Kan., he attended Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif., specializing in Mandarin Chinese. After training he worked for Army Security Agency. He spent 24 years serving at various duty stations, including time spent in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. Mac was a highly decorated non-commissioned officer, receiving the National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with five bronze service stars, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal Clasp Silver 1 Loop, Meritorious Service Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with palm, the Silver Star and the Bronze Star. After Vietnam, Mac received orders for Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, where he eventually retired from the Army on Feb. 29, 1976. Mac attended Angelo State University in San Angelo to acquire an accounting degree, graduating in 1979, then went to work for the state of Texas in the Comptroller's Office for the next 17 years. Mac was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; he served as post commander of VFW Post 1815, San Angelo, and District #22 commander. He was a member of the Arlington Sunrise Rotary Club until he moved to Rolla, Mo. Survivors: Mac will be missed more than words can express by his wife of 42 years, Debra Ann McLucas; his children, Jessica, Christopher, Lillian and Clayton; grandchildren, Victoria Barajas, Christina Barajas, Joseph Laws, Clayton Laws, Clayton McLucas, Aryel McLucas and Kenzi McLucas; and his 11-month-old great-grandson, Brentley Wayne Kubiak.